Business, general

Quality of telecommunications exports to former Soviet bloc to be raised

Article Abstract:

The United States and its allies at the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Exports Control (Cocom) Conference agree to increase the quality of the telecommunications equipment that can be exported to the former Soviet republics. The move, which will take effect Jul 1, 1992, significantly improves the market that AT and T and other US companies have been trying to enter in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The new quality standards will enable vendors to supply the republics with high-speed fiber-optic cabling to connect their urban regions with the world. Cocom and the republics will also jointly develop a system for controlling trade of sensitive technology to ensure that the technology does not fall into the wrong hands.

Sprint to supply Soviet joint venture with switches

Article Abstract:

US Sprint Communications Co obtains US government approval to supply a USSR venture with packet switching equipment to improve telecommunications services between the Soviet Union and other countries. US Sprint expects to obtain an export license by Sep 21, 1990, the first for telecommunications equipment since the US relaxed its policy on technology transfer to the Soviet Union. The packet switches are used to route telephone calls and control traffic in voice, facsimile and digital data transmission. The eight-bit switches are about two generations behind the switches used in most Western countries but are expected to greatly improve the current Soviet system.